Community Hub

Posted on by jimvondracek

This spring, in addition to Augustana’s many uses of our building, a remarkable array of partners have also been using it. Financially, we’ve been averaging more than $4,000/month in facility income, but just as important is our development as a community hub.

While we expect the building use to slow somewhat this summer, April and May have been busy, including Augustana and Augustana members using the building, our long-term tenants, a new weekly building partner, and many special events or meetings.

Our new weekly partner is Operation Change – Move for Life, a health, education, and wellness program that serves a community of mostly African-American women over 50 years of age. They have approximately fifty participants in the program and use the building every Saturday morning. Their program runs for five months.

We have two tenants in the building, with offices. The Hyde Park Village is a long-term partner who also uses the Hall and the GA room for their programming throughout the month. The Village’s mission is to support seniors in our community and provide resources to help them maintain independence and live in their own homes.

Our second tenant is relatively new, as of last autumn – Craig Truitt, an attorney, and his spouse, Diane Miller. In addition to their office, they occasionally use the GA Room for meetings.

In April and May, the array of groups, events and people Augustana has hosted in its building include:

  • A vocal recital by Christine Hauville, daughter of Augustana member Marie Wester
  • Over twenty rehearsals and audition sessions for the Hyde Park Players
  • Twice a month Cub Scout meetings
  • The Hyde Park Village’s twice monthly Tech Cafe
  • Ascension Day organ recital by Augustana’s incoming cantor, Michael Terry Caraher
  • Meeting and reception for the Hyde Park Garden Fair
  • The Hyde Park Village’s monthly Drop In program
  • Women of Augustana’s Afternoon Tea
  • Concert and rehearsal for the University of Chicago Glee Club
  • Five Holy Week services and a champagne reception following the Easter Vigil
  • Mark Granfors’ funeral and luncheon
  • Operation Change’s weekly health, education and wellness program
  • Weekly Lutheran Campus Ministry vespers and dinner
  • Weekly worship for the Ghanaian Community Church
  • Weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
  • Board meetings and monthly public programming for the UChicago Service League
  • Meeting space for the Hyde Park Refugee Project and its intern
  • Lakeside Quilters Guild programs
  • LSTC Baccalaureate service
  • Concert by the Wartburg College Wind Ensemble
  • A polling place for the Chicago Board of Elections
  • Monthly meetings for the Ghanaian National Council of Chicago
  • A dance workshop led by an Augustana member
  • A weekly Steppin’ Dance class
  • Weekly piano, voice and cello lessons
  • Three Augustana committee meetings monthly
  • Weekly Campus Ministry Brown Bag lunch and discussion
  • Workshop on live-saving medication for those overdosing on opioids led by the UChicago Harm Reduction Program
  • Augustana’s monthly Community Breakfast
  • A baby shower
  • A graduation party and dinner for an Augustana member
  • A Mother’s Day party
  • Augustana’s luncheon for KAM Isaiah Israel and Rabbi Reeves
  • A youth group from Ohio for four days